Goodbye Lonely (The Bancrofts: Book 4)

by Barrett, Brenda

  She glanced over at him. She couldn't quite process that he was a divorcee either. He looked so carefree and gorgeous, but he was a man with baggage. At one time he had loved a woman enough to marry her, and he wasn't sure if he still had feelings for her.

  She wondered afresh. What was it that made him so attractive? It was almost instant, that connection she felt toward him when he walked into the classroom that first time she saw him. It was like her dormant sexual feelings were suddenly awakened, and that one person because of whom life made sense had finally arrived.

  Oh, she wished that there had been nobody else in his life.

  Gareth glanced at Kylie's somber profile. She was knitting her brow as if she was working out a problem in her head. He had to remind himself, for the umpteenth time since she stepped into the car this morning, that this new creature with the strange vanilla scented perfume was Kylie Bancroft.

  She had changed her appearance drastically. Her hair was out and framing her face. Her deep brown eyes were highlighted with a silvery tinge of some makeup that matched elements in her softly flowing dress. He had never seen her in a dress before. He never knew that her arms were so toned, or that her lips, now highlighted by a coral lipstick, were so plump.

  She was different, in a drastically beautiful sort of way, and it scared him slightly. His sexual attraction to her had gone up a few notches more than he wanted and it did not fit into his go-real-slow-with-Kylie plan.

  He kept his hands tightly on the steering wheel, but his fingers were itching to take a stray strand of her hair, that had lodged near her shoulders, and tuck it behind her ear.

  This was madness and the weekend hadn't even started yet.

  "What's your favorite music?" She looked at him curiously. He assumed that the problem that she had been working out in her head was settled because she was looking at him with her eyes cleared again, only this query seemed to be flashing in their inquisitive depths.

  Gareth smiled, "I have to confess, I don't really have any faves. I liked the song you were playing and humming to in class the other day."

  "That was Khaled. My sister, Jessica, is mad about him. Like, really obsessed, so I borrowed a CD to see what all the fuss was about and found out that the guy does some really good covers of 70s and 80 s music and puts a little spin on it. The song that I was humming was 'Goodbye Lonely, Hello Love.'"

  Gareth shrugged. "I love the music from that era." He smiled at her. "How does it feel to be a loner in a large family? As an only child, I used to wish I had a large family."

  Kylie shrugged. "My family is a bit dysfunctional."

  "But your parents are still together. Your father runs the university well, and your Mom is always smiling."

  Kylie snorted. "That's the point. My Dad is focused on his career; I hardly saw my Dad growing up. My Mom is the ‘smiley’ sort of person… she's always pleasant. My siblings all have their issues, and we are all different. My closest sibling is Adrian, the one who is going to get married in two weeks. For a long time, he lived outside Jamaica because he was broken-hearted."

  "Well, obviously his heart is healed if he's getting married," Gareth said comfortably. He glanced at the dashboard clock; it was ten o'clock; they were making good time. When he entered the highway, he looked over at Kylie who had her eyes half closed.

  "What are you thinking about?"

  "Life," Kylie responded, dreamily, "Adrian thought he had lost Cathy, but somehow God allowed them to get back together. It's as if God has one special person lined up for you, and no circumstance is too big to destroy that link. Even if you're seventy, and have lived separate lives, if you are meant to be together, then you will end up with the right person."

  Gareth looked at her dreamy expression and wanted to point out to her that she was reciting romantic drivel. Then he wondered if maybe there was a grain of truth to it.

  "So you think God made lovers in pairs?" he asked her, curiously, going along with her theory.

  "Yes," Kylie said, "definitely, and then sometimes we pair up with the wrong person because maybe we didn't ask God to lead, you know? Or sometimes our pair dies or gets lost or lives in another culture and then we have to resign ourselves to living solitary or marrying somebody else's pair."

  "Sounds chaotic."

  "It is. That's why God is the only one who is supposed to point you to your perfect match. Only a few persons get to be with their perfect match in this world. When they do, it is bliss. They can definitely say ‘goodbye lonely’, like that song says. If you aren't married to your pair you feel empty, and you constantly toy with the question 'what if?'"

  Gareth grunted. Jackie ran across his mind. She was definitely not his perfect pair, or was she?

  When they met, they were both in college, and in their early twenties. It had been love at first sight. After two weeks of knowing each other, it had felt so right and they had felt as if they couldn't wait so they had moved in together within the month. They were crazily happy at first, and then life happened.

  Maybe she was his pair. They certainly had taken their time to get divorced. Neither of them had wanted to let go, even though they had been miserable and started resenting each other. Or maybe Kylie was his perfect pair. They certainly meshed, especially as programmers. All the signs indicated that they might have been ordained to be together. He had gotten a divorced and came to Jamaica, just in time to meet her.

  All the events were unfolding as it should, or maybe not, since Jackie was coming back.

  Suddenly Gareth felt confused—a low throbbing confusion that dogged his thoughts until they reached the plush-green parish of Portland.

  *****

  Kylie still had not recovered from the impact of her first sightings of Portland. The blue sea wrapped around miles of rocky shoreline on her left; on her right, were rolling hills of green. The stark green and bright blue were so vibrant, she felt as if she were in a different country. To complement the rustic island atmosphere, Gareth had put in a steel band version of Bob Marley's 'Satisfy My Soul'. She thought it was vibe overkill, but it really put her in a holiday kind of mood.

  "How does this compare to Mount Faith?" Gareth asked, after another one of her gasps.

  "It's gorgeous, and rustic, and so green." Kylie was twisting in her seat and trying to record every single detail in her mind.

  Gareth grinned. "I acted the same way you did when I first came here twelve years ago. My parents had moved to America two years before and then got a divorce the following year. My Mom came to Jamaica to lick her wounds so to speak. I came with her, and I have been coming back ever since. My friends Clay and Yasmin Lipschitz came with me one year and decided to buy a piece of property here. They spend an inordinate amount of time in Jamaica. They are really friendly."

  Kylie nodded.

  "They are also Jewish. They are very strict with Shabbat. Stricter than normal so tonight we are going to have to whisper."

  Kylie giggled. "Are you serious?"

  "Yes. The decibels of your voice should not be above a certain level during Shabbat, but not to worry, they are loud people usually."

  Kylie smiled. "I am not really loud, so I wasn't worried."

  Gareth touched her hand briefly, and she could feel the tingling all the way until they reached Portland's capital, Port Antonio. They drove past the town and continued on the main road, which seemed to be flirting with the shoreline. She opened the window wider so that she could smell the salt in the air and feel the breeze on her face. She searched her emotions and found that she was feeling relaxed and happy. She was content to just ‘be’. She too loved Portland.

  "Are you okay?" Gareth whispered to her dramatically, as she sat outside on what the Lipchitz's called their verandah, which was really a hundred foot deck that extended out onto a shallow reef.

  It took her a while to acclimatize herself to the fact that she was sitting over the sea.

  They were a cool couple who seemed to be in their early thirties. Yasmin had
long curly red hair, which she had whispered and told Kylie, not two seconds after they met, that it came from a bottle. Clay was a portly fellow with twinkling brown eyes that invited you to laugh with him.

  Kylie looked at Gareth warmly. "Of course. The view is gorgeous. I am so happy I came."

  She forgot to whisper, so she looked at Gareth worriedly. "Sorry for not whispering."

  Gareth chuckled. "I doubt Yas and Clay are hearing you. They usually retire early."

  "So, can I go to church tomorrw?" Kylie asked, "or is it forbidden?"

  Gareth shook his head. "Of course, we are going to church tomorrow. They won't come though. They usually meet with other Jewish friends at Rabbi Petersen's house."

  Kylie smiled, "That's cool, my mother stressed that I uphold my Christian principles while off with you this weekend. I am really happy that I came. Thank you for shaking me out of my comfort zone."

  Gareth sat beside her in the lounge chair. "Thank you for coming with me. I really enjoyed your company while we were driving in."

  "This place is just amazing," Kylie said, after a comfortable silence. The night was dark, but the various colors of the lights from the seaside villas reflected off the water. Two rafts slowly cruised by. "I want to do that," she said, dreamily.

  Gareth gently held her hands in his. "Tomorrow night. However, I must warn you, that is a super-romantic endeavor."

  Kylie inhaled. The warmth of his hand on hers was actually causing her body to have spasmodic shivers.

  He gently caressed her hand and she started moving her feet in agitation. "Stop," she finally breathed out, "this is sensory overload."

  Gareth released her fingers and laughed softly. "You are something else. I like your shyness." His gray eyes were glowing at her in the half-light. "Coming to Mount Faith to teach was my best move yet."

  "Why?"

  "Why?" Gareth grinned. "Because you were there doing your master's in my department. I got to know you. I am growing to lo... er like you. It's all good."

  Kylie's heart skipped several beats. Was he going to say love? The thought made her warm all over, and she silently thought that she loved him too.

  She was convinced now more than ever that Gareth was her match—the one that God made just for her. The thought made her feel confident. When she took his hand in hers and leaned over and kissed him on his cheek, she couldn't tell who was more shocked at her boldness, her or Gareth.

  *****

  Yasmin and Clay threw a party on their deck that Saturday night. Kylie was getting dressed in her room when she heard a knock on the door. She had finally decided to wear one of two dresses that Deidra had packed for her in case of a party. The orange sheer one was lightweight and had several intertwined materials that flowed to the ground in a pool of feathery bells.

  The white one was more cut to fit and was what Deidra had called a bandage dress. It looked extremely good on her. She had just put it on when she went to the door. It was Yasmin. She was already dressed for the party in a dark green short dress and sandals. She had a grin on her face.

  "I am so sorry we didn't get to talk much before. I told Gareth he should carry you here for a whole week in the summer if your schedule allows it."

  She came into the room slowly and sat in one of the chairs near the bed. "We have known Gareth forever," she said, rocking slowly and looking at Deidra. "When we heard about you, we were so happy for him. I can't tell you how long we waited for him and Jackie to sort out their marriage so that he could legally move on."

  Kylie, who had sat on the bed quietly panicking at the idea of having a heart to heart conversation with a stranger, perked up.

  Finally, maybe she could ask Yasmin questions about Jackie and get answers to them. She really was curious about Gareth's ex-wife.

  "So, what is Jackie like?" she asked hoping that she did not sound as curious as she really felt.

  "She is fat and has a wart growing out of the middle of her forehead," Yasmin said somberly. "The poor unfortunate girl."

  "Really," Kylie asked, maybe a little bit too excitedly.

  "Nah," Yasmin grinned, "I am just playing with you."

  She wound her red hair around her fingers and looked at the ends before she answered. "Jackie is bi-racial, with the most glorious olive skin and wavy hair. I envied her hair in college. Who am I kidding? I envied Jackie a lot in college. I am not proud of it."

  Kylie groaned. "You did?"

  Yasmin cackled. "We were all friends, but Jackie was never really friendly you know. She was always a part of the bunch, yet not a part of us. In Jackie's presence, one has the tendency to feel tolerated, like a queen does her subjects. It used to drive me crazy."

  Yasmin sighed. "Don't worry about her though. Gareth seems really happy with you. I can't recall him ever being so happy and relaxed. Because of that, Clay and I love you to pieces."

  Kylie smiled. "I like him too. We have worked together for the past year and I am happy he asked me here."

  "This is the litmus test," Yasmin said, grinning, "having his oldest and dearest friends check you out."

  She stretched. "Listen, Gareth said that you are shy and a bit of an introvert and that I should take it easy with you. He thinks I am overbearing and too bubbly—which is not true. I may talk a lot but anyway... I won't be at Mount Faith when Jackie comes, and I want to give you some advice."

  Kylie opened her mouth, but no sound came out.

  "When she comes?" Kylie asked, finally looking at Yasmin in confusion.

  Yasmin covered her mouth, "Oh my Gosh, you didn't know?"

  "No," Kylie shook her head, "no, I didn't." A stricken feeling overwhelmed her, snatching her happiness before she could even experience it properly.

  Yasmin looked apologetic. "I thought Gareth told you. I am sorry."

  "No, that's okay," Kylie whispered hoarsely.

  "No, it's not," Yasmin said, "I preempted him; he's going to be mad."

  "No, really, it's okay," Kylie said. "They are divorced. I have no idea why this should be such a big deal."

  Yasmin sat down again and shook her head. "Listen to me, Kylie. That woman does nothing without calculating what the favors will be to her. I suspect that she wants Gareth back, and she's coming back to stake a claim on him. Please don't let her do what she did to him the last time. Promise me. She broke him. I am his friend. I love to see him happy."

  "But I can't... what did she do?" Kylie was thinking several things at once. Why did Yasmin think that she had the power to stop anybody from hurting Gareth? And why did she think that she, Kylie Bancroft, who always took the path of least resistance, would be fighting for anybody?

  "She is manipulative, even faked a pregnancy so that they could stay together the last time. Gareth still believes she lost the baby." She shook her head. "Gareth doesn't know the side of her that we do. She is all joy and light with him, but horrible otherwise."

  Kylie slumped her shoulders. "I am not a fighting kind of person." She looked up at Yasmin in panic, "I think I am going to side step this one."

  "No." Yasmin shook her head. "Gareth has feelings for you. You two are perfect together. You just don't know it yet. Just don't let that evil witch come back into his life. Please."

  The party was lively and the company friendly. Before Kylie could panic about being a wallflower somebody would chat her up. She barely got the chance to talk to Gareth even though he stayed near to her all the time. The white moonlit lanterns and the breeze off the sea made the place feel surreal.

  "Madam, your chariot awaits," Gareth whispered in her ear, when she was conversing with a politician who was telling her a fascinating tale of the time he lost his speech notes at a function where he was to deliver the keynote presentation. His witty repartee had her laughing. In mid-laugh, Gareth led her away to the edge of the deck, where there was a bamboo raft and a smiling Rastafarian standing at the front of it. He was to be their skipper. After she was comfortably seated beside Gareth, the skipper slowly navigated
out onto the calm sea.

  "Oh, look, the villa looks so different from here!" Kylie exclaimed.

  Gareth chuckled. "It is nice to get some time alone with you. I can't believe you had to attend confidence classes a few days ago."

  "It's the people," Kylie said grinning, "they are super friendly."

  "No," Gareth tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear, "it's you. You are growing by the leaps and bounds I should say."

  He leaned forward and put the tip of his nose on hers.

  Kylie suddenly inhaled.

  "Breathe out," Gareth whispered.

  She exhaled.

  He smiled. "Promise me one thing. When we go back to Mount Faith, let me still see this girl: the one I'm sailing with on this raft, with the cool Portland breeze around us."

  Kylie laughed. "I don't know if I can pull it off."

  Gareth pressed his lips to hers then pulled back. "Look, over there is Monkey Island."

  He pointed across to a dark, hulky island that seemed to be less than 200 feet at its widest point. It was directly in their path, and she glanced at it briefly, but for the life of her, she could barely focus on anything after the kiss. It was chaste and quick, but it left her melting. Then and there, she decided that she loved Gareth.

  She would fight for him, as Yasmin suggested, and that evil Jackie, who was not even his perfect match, was not going to come between them.

  Chapter Seven

  "Why are you so pensive?" Gareth asked her, as they were driving back to Mount Faith. Kylie was looking at the scenery with a sense of nostalgia. Portland was so quiet and pretty that she regretted leaving.

  "We can always come back another weekend." Gareth said, when she sighed.

  It's really lovely there; I am looking forward to coming back." Kylie fidgeted in her seat. "Can I ask you something?"